Cougars Selections Highlight The 2005 Misl College Draftby Ryan Waldheger (Analysis | MISL - February 23)Four rounds of the five-round process were complete, and California Cougars Director of Soccer Operations Dennis Lukens was on the clock to kick off the final go-around of the 2005 MISL College Draft, which was conducted by teleconference on Tuesday. With his selection of midfielder Gonzalo Segares, the lifelong soccer-mind let out a sigh of relief and an honest admission. “We got almost everyone we wanted, we just missed out on one,” Lukens said, as the Cougars had just gained the rights to players for the first time in their brief historymore details | go to article

Howes, Milwaukee Vault To The Top Of The Standingsby Ryan Waldheger (Article | MISL - March 6)The first "Ask The Pros" participant is also in the midst of another pace-setting season for the Wave By Ryan Waldheger Asking Greg Howes to assist with the launch of the new "Fans Ask the Pros" feature on www.misl.net seems entirely appropriate. The Milwaukee Wave target is coming off of one of the more productive seasons in recent memory for an offensive player, and with his current hot streak, has surged into the MISL Spalding Scoring Championship lead again and enters Milwaukee’s final 11 games with a real shot at a second consecutive Major Indoor Soccer League Most Valuable Player Award. Ask around the League, and you’ll discover that fellow attackers respect him as much as they do any other player. Ask some defenders and goalkeepers, and it’s less about respect and more about fear.more details | go to article

Milwaukee And St. Louis Awarded Misl Championship Series Finalsby No Author Listed (Analysis | MISL - March 24)Thursday Mar 24, 2005 WESTPORT, Conn. -- The Major Indoor Soccer League announced Thursday that the 2005 MISL Championship Series Finals has been reformatted as a two-game, “golden goal” set of matches with Championship Game One awarded to Milwaukee and scheduled for Saturday, May 14 at U.S. Cellular Arena at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time and Game Two awarded to St. Louis and slated for Saturday, May 21 at Savvis Center at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, according to MISL Commissioner Steve Ryan.more details | go to article

Tatu Is "Optimistic" About A Return Of The Dallas Sidekicksby Ryan Waldheger (Analysis | MISL - April 9)Tatu would absolutely love to see his beloved Dallas Sidekicks kicking around the soccer ball in preparation for this season’s upcoming MISL Championship Series. He’s one of the indoor game’s all-time greats, a legend to all who know about professional indoor soccer, and soccer in Dallas, and he was perhaps the single-most heart-broken individual when the Sidekicks suspended operations and went “inactive” following the 2003-04 Major Indoor Soccer League season. Known as a never-say-die style of competitor on the playing field, Tatu has spent much of the last year spearheading an effort aimed at reviving the storied Sidekicks club under new leadership. For nearly two decades, Dallas’ professional indoor soccer team represented the stability and success to which every professional soccer team strives. Throughout much of this past year Tatu has felt as though he’s been faced with an unrelenting opponent. Now, Tatu reports from Dallas, that he has reason to front a cautious smile.more details | go to article

"State Of The California Cougars Address"by Ryan Waldheger (Analysis | MISL - April 9)Across the Major Indoor Soccer League, clubs were tuning up for one final push through the remainder of the 2004-05 regular season. At that time every MISL team was, and still remains, alive in the running for one of four coveted MISL Championship Series bids, and player transactions were crossing the wire at the speed at which you’d expect in anticipation of the League's March 31 roster freeze. In Stockton, California, they’ll be playing that game next season. But this March, and on Tuesday, March 22 in particular, the California Cougars were engaging in other MISL business. It was a momentous day for the expansion club, as the Cougars took their next step as an organization by holding their first “State of the California Cougars Address,” delivered outside of Cougars headquarters, and overlooking the fast-developing construction site of the Stockton Events Center, which will open its doors to fans for the 2005-06 MISL Season.more details | go to article

Force Clinch Playoff Berth With 7-2 Win Over Stormby No Author Listed (Article | MISL - April 15)CLEVELAND—The Cleveland Force assured themselves of a berth in the MISL playoffs by defeating the Chicago Storm 7-2 Friday before 2,802 at the Wolstein Convocation Center. The first of Aduato Neto’s two goals, at 8:19 of the second quarter, was the game-winner. Neto has six goals and seven points in his last five games. Reigning MISL Offensive Player of the Week Aaron Susi had two assists. Goalkeeper Jim Larkin made seven fourth-quarter saves to defuse a late comeback attempt.more details | go to article

Final Four Set - Regular Season Title At Stake On Sundayby No Author Listed (Analysis | MISL - April 23)The Milwaukee Wave hosts the two-time defending MISL Champion Baltimore Blast on Sunday. With a win, the Wave will finish the year with the best record in the League for the sixth consecutive season. With a loss, the top seed in the MISL Champonship Series will go to Cleveland, which toppped the Wave, 6-4, before an active crowd of 6,151 at Cleveland's Wolstein Center on Saturday night. "You play all season to win championships - the regular season championship and in the playoffs," Milwaukee forward Greg Howes said Saturday night. "Sunday's game against Baltimore is a big game and we have to treat it as our most important game of the year to this point. We have to win this game, and keep getting better every game as we head into the postseason."more details | go to article

Misl Goalkeeper Of The Year - Philadelphia's Peter Pappasby No Author Listed (Analysis | MISL - May 5)Thursday May 05, 2005 WESTPORT, Conn. (Thursday, May 5, 2005) – The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) announced today that Philadelphia’s Peter Pappas has been named the 2004-05 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year. The Philadelphia KiXX goalkeeper, who received the seventh All-League honor of his career last week, was selected for this award following a week-long balloting process that polled media and team personnel and concluded on Monday, April 25, one day after the conclusion of the MISL regular season. Pappas wins his second consecutive MISL Goalkeeper of the Year award, and second in his nine-year career. Voters were asked to cast a first-place vote (worth five points), a second-place vote (three points), and third-place vote (one point) for eligible defenders. Pappas’ name appeared on nearly 94 percent of the ballots. “Although this is an individual award,” Pappas said, “to be MISL Goalkeeper of the Year, the team in front has to play well and play the right way. Despite a lot of new faces on our team, we did a great job playing together with team defensive soccer. My success is a product of the team’s success.”more details | go to article

Hector Marinaro Trophy To Be Awarded To Misl Mvpby (Analysis | MISL - May 10)WESTPORT, Conn. (Tuesday, May 10, 2005) – The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) announced today that it would honor the accomplishments of professional indoor soccer’s all-time leading scorer by naming the trophy presented to the MISL’s Most Valuable Player as “The Hector Marinaro Trophy.” The custom-made Hector Marinaro Trophy will be presented annually to the MISL’s MVP and will be unveiled on Thursday, when the winner for the 2004-05 MISL Regular Season is announced at the 2005 MISL Championship Series Finals press conference in Milwaukee. Marinaro won six regular season MVP awards during his 19 seasons as an indoor soccer professional. He was a 14-time All-Star, won eight League scoring titles, led the League in goals scored in nine seasons, and won three League Championships with Cleveland (1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99). He announced his retirement from the MISL on Oct. 12, 2004.more details | go to article

Championship Street Jam To Celebrate Franchise's Successby No Author Listed (Analysis | MISL - May 10)MILWAUKEE WAVE CELEBRATES SIX CONSECUTIVE FINALS MILWAUKEE (Tuesday, May 10, 2005) – The Milwaukee Wave its sixth consecutive Championship Series Finals this Saturday, May 14 versus the Cleveland Force with a pre-game celebration beginning at 4:30 p.m. (CST). The Milwaukee Wave Championship Street Jam presented by 97.3 The Brew and Time Warner Cable from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. will commemorate the success of the 21-year-old franchise. The Street Jam will have live music, food and drinks. There will also be a live auction at the Street Jam, where fans can sign up to win several great prizes including several Milwaukee Wave autographed jerseys, a Milwaukee Bucks autographed basketball, four (4) Club Level Seats to a 2005 Brewers game and more. This event will last until game activities begin inside “The Cell”, U.S. Cellular Arena, at 7:35 p.m. Live kick-off for Game One of the 2005 MISL Championship Series Finals on ESPN2 is at 8 p.m.more details | go to article

Wave's Greg Howes Repeats As Misl Most Valuable Playerby No Author Listed (Article | MISL - May 12)WESTPORT, Conn. (Thursday, May 12, 2005) – The Major Indoor Soccer League announced today that Milwaukee Wave forward Greg Howes has been voted the MISL Most Valuable Player for the 2004-05 Regular Season. It’s the second consecutive year that Howes has won the award. Last week he was honored with his second consecutive Spalding Scoring Championship after leading all MISL scorers with 73 points (41 goals and 32 assists). Today he was presented with The Hector Marinaro Trophy at a press conference at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee. Unveiled on Tuesday, The Hector Marinaro Trophy honors the sport’s all-time leading scorer, Hector Marinaro, who retired in October following 19 seasons in the game, eight scoring titles, and six League MVP selections. Both Marinaro and MISL Commissioner Steve Ryan were present for today’s presentation.more details | go to article

Misl Championship Series Finals Kick Off Tonight On Espn2by Ryan Waldheger (Preview | MISL - May 14)This is title time for Cleveland and Milwaukee. Only hours separate the Force and Wave from the kick-off of their 2005 MISL Championship Series Finals. While the rest of the country can tune in to ESPN2 on Saturday night at 9 p.m. (EST) to catch all of the live end-to-end action, we caught a glimpse into the two camps as they made final preparations for the 2-game set that opens tonight (May 14) at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee.more details | go to article

Misl California Cougars Expansion Draft - June 22by No Author Listed (Article | MISL - June 16)Thursday Jun 16, 2005 WESTPORT, Conn. (Thursday, June 16, 2005) – The California Cougars of the Major Indoor Soccer League will continue assembling their inaugural season roster on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 with the California Cougars Expansion Draft, MISL Commissioner Steve Ryan announced today. The draft will commence at 1:00 p.m. (EST), 10:00 a.m. (PST), and will be conducted via telephone conference. “I have a game plan going into this process,” said Cougars Head Coach Troy Dayak. “I’ve been turning over every rock in this area, looking for the best players for the Cougars. I’ve been in contact with coaches from this area and around the country. In just the last week, I’ve probably watched 25 MISL game tapes from last season, and I am spending 10 to 12 hours a day scouting players in preparation for this exciting Draft and the season.”more details | go to article

California Cougars Select 16 Players In 2005 Misl Expansion Draftby No Author Listed (Analysis | MISL - June 22)WESTPORT, Conn. (Wednesday, June 22, 2005) – The California Cougars of the Major Indoor Soccer League continued assembling their inaugural season roster on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 by selecting a total of 16 players off the rosters of the MISL’s active teams, via a League-wide teleconference. The Cougars, which will commence play in the 2005-06 MISL Season and host MISL games in Northern California’s brand new Stockton Events Center, chose one goalkeeper and 15 field players with their allotted Expansion Draft selections. High-scoring forward and Mexico City native, Marco “Chikis” Lopez (St. Louis Steamers) was the first selection made by the Cougars. California proceeded by obtaining the rights to second-year goalkeeper Brian Rowland (Baltimore Blast), promising Brazilian midfielder/forward Ricardinho (Milwaukee Wave), and veterans Vlatko Andonovski (Kansas City Comets) and Kevin Sloan (Philadelphia KiXX) – both former MISL All-Stars – to complete its first five picks.more details | go to article

Storm Shuts Down St. Louis In First Of Consecutive Friendlies - 5-0by (Result | MISL - July 17)Captain Novi Marojevic (pictured) scored for Chicago, as did Zdravko Tuzlak, Andy Rosenband, Ryan Futagaki, and Ante Cop, as a side fronted by a number of Chicago and Northwest Indiana stars and up-and-comers downed the Steamers in an outdoor exhibition. Rematch: The first home game of the St. Louis Steamers' Outdoor Summer Soccer Series is slated for Saturday, July 23 when the Steamers host the Chicago Storm in a 7:00 p.m. exhibition contest at Maryland Heights Sportport. In Sunday's opener, the Chicago Storm posted a solid victory over MISL rival St. Louis Steamers in the team’s first outdoor exhibition game of the summer held at the Saints Peter and Paul Macedonian Church soccer tournamet on July, 17. The Chicago Storm put on a lively match for the crowd with a decisive final score 5-0.more details | go to article